Samuel suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot during a player-organized practice in June while in Tennessee.
"Deebo was really working," Lynch said on the Murph and Mac show. "That's the wonderful thing we've learned about this kid ... He's a worker. He wants to be great at football, and that sure showed in his first year. But I think it's even showed more on his desire to be great.
"He was working tremendous when our players were down in Nashville doing some workouts that Jimmy (Garoppolo) designed and put together. Unfortunately, just a freak deal. A Jones fracture in his foot. So that was a blow. But I think you always try to be optimistic. The good news is it happened when it happened."
Samuel has insisted that he will be ready for the regular season, giving fans a 10-week timeline for his recovery. That would mean getting back onto the field by the end of August, which Lynch doesn't sound as optimistic about.
"Might we be without him a little bit at the beginning of the season? Yes," Lynch continued. "That timeline, sometimes these things heal at a different rate. They continue to monitor it. He's doing well. I'm not going to put an exact timeline on it, but I think it's fair to say that he may well miss some games early in the year.
"But we're going to have him back, at some point, and I know his rehab is going very well. And he's working very diligently and still intent on having a really big year for us. That's the good news of it."
Samuel caught 57 receptions for 802 receiving yards and three touchdowns through 15 regular-season games during his rookie campaign last season. He added 10 receptions for 127 yards through three playoff games, including a five-catch, 39-receiving-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Deebo Samuel explains why 49ers reunion made perfect sense
It was somewhat surprising when the San Francisco 49ers signed Deebo Samuel to a one-year deal, reuniting with the wide receiver after he requested a trade last year. However, the reunion wasn't surprising to Samuel. He had been in talks with the 49ers for some time, as... -
49ers WR Deebo Samuel's one-year contract includes intriguing incentive details
Last week, it was widely reported that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel signed a one-year contract worth up to $7 million, reuniting with the team that drafted him in 2019. As is often the case with NFL contracts, however, the initial reported value doesn't tell... -
49ers coach outlines Deebo Samuel's workload plan for 2026
The San Francisco 49ers' decision to reunite with wide receiver Deebo Samuel on a one-year deal makes sense. There is plenty of familiarity between Samuel and the organization, allowing him to quickly get back up to speed with his teammates during training camp. However,... -
49ers mailbag: Will Deebo Samuel start? How much will Stribling and Height contribute? How has Brock Purdy looked?
The San Francisco 49ers are in their second week of training camp. There have already been several injuries, but there have also been a lot of good things, too. It should be a fun season. We opened the 49ers Webzone Mailbag this week to find out what was on your mind. Let's...